iBnv 
^336 


Duke  University  Libraries 
Report  of  the  P 
Conf  Pam  #336 

DTTDEDflmx 


11  E  p  o  n  T 


OF    THE 


POSTMASTER  GENERAL. 


POSTOFPICE  Dr.PARTMr.XT,         ) 

Richmond,  J'a.,  November  7,  1861.  ) 
To  THK  Pbesidcxt  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  follo'.ving  report  of  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Postoffice  Department  since  my  report  of  the  2d  of  May 
last,  and  to  ask  for  such  alditional  legislation  as  will  meet  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  public  service  : 

The  accounts  of  this  Department  for  the  fiscal  year  which  cndleil  the 
30th  of  June,  l&6(,  cannot  be  settled  so  as  to  enable  the  Auditor  to 
make  a  full  exhibit  of  its  receipts  and  expenditures  for  the  past  year 
before  the  latter  part  of  this  month. 

He  has  prepared,  however,  tabular  statements  (A,  V>  and  C.)  here- 
with subraittc'l,  showing  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Depart- 
ment for  the  first,  second  and  tliird  quarters  of  the  fiscal  year.  This 
exhibit  of  the  condition  of  the  finances  of  the  Department  is  imperfect, 
on  account  of  the  fact  that  the  returns  from  tho  States  beyond  the 
Mississippi  have  been  but  partially  received,  and  do  not  exhibit  the 
full  amount  either  of  the  receipts  or  expetiditures  for  those  States. 

From  these  tables  it  will  be  seen  that  the  whole  amount  of  the  re- 
ceipts for  those  three  quarters  from  letter  postage,  newspiipcr  postage, 
sales  of  postage  stamps,  surplus  of  emoluments  from  box  rents  and 
miscellaneous  receipts,  was  two  millions  niae  hundred  an  1  sixty  eight 
thousand  one  hundied  and  sixty-four  dollars  and  sixtr-three  cents, 
(§2,CGS,l(;i  6J.)  And  that  the  total  of  expendi«-.urci' for  the  sime 
period  was  one  million  five  hundred  and  seventy  thousand  three  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  dollars  and  ninety  four  cents,  (§1.57 1), 387  9  1)  Of  this 
sum  sixty-two  thousand  five  hundre-i  an*!  twenty-seven  dollars  and  three 
cents  (!$')2,537  03)  was  paid  for  postal  service  performed  in  tho  Con- 
federate States  before  this  Department  took  charge  of  the  postal  ser- 
vice, and  under  the  authority  of  ">-l'i  nd  to  jvcindz  for  the  pai/nient  of 
sums  ascertained  to  be  due  fur  postal  service  to  dti.zais  of  the  Vovfudcrun' 


2 

Sttilfs  by  the  Postmaster  General,'''  approved  September  27,  18G2.  It 
^  ill  be  seen  that,  excluding  this  latter  sum,  the  exces3  of  the  revenues 
over  the  oxpenditures  of  the  Department  for  these  three  (juurters  ia 
one  million  four  hundred  and  sixty  thouoaml  three  hundred  and  three 
dollars  and  seventy-two  cents,  (Si  ,46(1, 3(i3  72.)  This  large  excess 
of  receipts  over  expenditures  will  be  materially  reduced  on  the  coming 
in  and  settlement  of  the  accounts  for  the  service  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi. But  there  will  still  be  a  large  excess  of  receipts  over  expendi- 
tures, • 

By  comparing  this  with  the  former  reports  of  the  Au'litor,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  financial  condition  of  the  Departnjcnt  exhibits  a  grati- 
fung  increase  of  its  revenues  over  its  expenditures. 

As  the  account  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Department 
for  the  past  year  cannot  now  be  made  up,  I  have  submitted  no  esti- 
mates for  the  appropriation  of  its  revenues  for  the  year  ending  June 
S(\  1866,  but  as  soon  as  this  account  can  be  prepared,  which  will 
probably  be  during  the  ensuing  session  of  Congress,  I  will  submit  the 
iiccessary  estimates. 

Finance  Bureau. 

The  report  of  the  Chief  of  the  Finance  Bureau  shows  that  there  was 
in  the  Treasury  and  its  branches,  to  the  credit  of  the  Postoffice 
Department,  on  the  3tlth  of  June,  18C3,  $2,109,237  93 

The  amount  depositi  d  by  postmasters  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river,  in  the  Treasury  and  its  branches,  to 
the  credit  of  this  Department,  from  the  Istof  July, 
1863,  to  the  30th  of  June,  1864,  was,  2,814,720  74 


Leaving  ia  the  Treasury  and  its  branches,  on  the  30tb 

of  June,  1864,  $4,923,953^67 

This  Department  has  not  yet  been  advised  of  the  amounts  deposited 
by  postmasters  in  the  branches  of  the  Treasury,  west  of  the  .Mississippi 
river,  since  the  Istof  July,  1863,  and  the  above  sum  will  be  increased 
on  the  coujing  in  of  the  necessary  information  by  the  sums  deposited 
there. 

The  number   of  warrants  on  the    Treasury   and  its  branches,  issued 

by  this    Department  in  payment  of  its   liabilities   from  the    1st  of 

July,   1863,    to   the  3Uth  of  June,    1864,   was    1,248,    amounting 

to,  $    844,334  05 

Leaving  in  the  Treasury  and  its  branches  to  the  credit 

of  this  Department  ou  30th  of  June,  1864,  4,079,624  04 

Which  is  distributed  as  follows,  to  wit  : 

Augusta,  S  68,067  72 

Charleston,  652,838  71 

Chattanooga.  182,.545  76 

Montgomery,  63,088  83 


Carried  forward,  $966,341  03 


Brought  forward. 
New  Orleans, 
Raleigh, 
Richmond, 
Savannah, 
Selma, 
Wilmington, 
Galveston, 
Little  Rock, 
Amount   transferred  by  warrant   from  Richmond  to 

Shrevcport,   December  12,  I8G1, 
Amount  placed  in  depositories  of   the  Treasury  to  be 

retired  from  circulation,  and  to   be  substituted  by 

new  notes,  under  the  "  Act  to  reduce  the  currency 

and  to  authorize  a  new  issue  of  notes  and  bonds," 

Making,  as  above,  $4,079,6  24  04 


r-rr 

-■-  3 

$966,341 

02 

196,130 

09 

67,212 

46 

1,853,223 

04 

101.358 

64 

35,51)3 

31 

26,599 

SO 

93,107 

43 

4,656 

22 

100,000 

00 

635,492  53 


Number  of  drafts  drawn  on  postmasters  in  payment  of  the  liabilities 
of  the  Department  from  the  Istof  July,  1863,  to  the  30th  of  June^. 
1861,  was  1,631,  amounting  to,  $238,723  82 

Amounts  paid  by  warrants,  as  above  stated,  844,334  63 


Making  a  total  of  payments  by  drafts  and  w^ar- 


rants  of 


$1,083,058  45 


The  number,  denominations  and  value  of  the  postage  stamps  sent 
out  from  the  1st  of  July,  1SG3,  to  30th  June,  1864,  was  as  follows: 


Quarters. 

2  cents. 

5  centa. 

10  cents. 

20  cents. 

Value. 

From  Ist  July  to  :iOih 

>c(jfem'i'T,  I8(i3... 
From  l.st    0 'tober  to 

aisr,  Dec.  18(5;; , 

From   lot  January  to 

3l9t  Maroh,  1S64... 
FroinLit  Auriltoaoth 

June,  1S6) 

$199,300 
211, .100 
249,100 
209,500 

$360,800 
501,200 

2,419,400 
3i5,200 

$6,994,400 
7,077,200 
8,718,800 

10,6fi0,0eo 

$39,000 
211,400 
1,120,90 
461,400 

ja.T  1,850  00 

779,286  00 

1,222.012  00 

1,180,230  00 

Total 

$S69,200 

$3,626,600 

$3.'<,450.400 

$1,833,300 

$3,743,378  00 

Making  an  aggregate  of  39,779,500  atampsi,  amounting  to  $3,713,378. 


The  number  of  dead  letters  opened,  and  containing  $20,705  58  in 
money,  registered  and  seat  out  for  delivery  from  July  1st,  1853,  to. 
June  30tb,  1804,  was,  1,995- 

Number  of  dead  letters  opened   and  filed,   containing 

$18,995   19  in  money,  not  sent  out  during  the  year,  1,529 


Carried  forward, 


3,524 


Brought  forward,  3,524 

Number  of  dead  letters  containing  drafts,  checks,  bills 
of  exchange,  and  other  enclosures  of  value,  amount- 
ing to  $665,6 1 1  95,  registered  and  sent  out  for  deliv- 
ery, 871 


Tftal   number  of  dead   letters  containing   $39,700  77 

in  money,  and  $6G5,()11    05  in  other  valuables,  4,U95 

2sumber  of  unpaid  letters  held  for  postage  and  return- 
ed to  the  dead  letter  office,  15,100 

Number  of  drop  letters  held  for  postage  and  returned 

to  the  dead  letter  office,  2,815 

Number  of  dead  letters  without  enclosures  of  value,  5GO,673 


Total  number  of  dead  letters   opened  from  July    1st, 

1863,  to  June  30th,  1864,  5^2.983 

The  number  of  quarterly  returns  from  Postmasters  re- 
ceived and  passed  to  the  Auditor  for  adjustment, 
from    the    Ist  of  July,  18U3,  to   the    30th  of  June, 

1864,  was,  '  15,815 


Military  Telegraphing. 

Th<f  superintendent  of  military  telegraphing  has  submitted  a  de- 
tailed report  of  that  branch  of  the  service,  for  the  year  which  ended 
June  30ih,  1864,  of  which  the  following  is  a  summary.  The  only 
preliminary  explanation  neces^iary  is  that  I  had  instructed  him  to  keep 
::n  account,  at  current  rates,  of  what  would  have  been  the  cost  of  all 
messages  sent  free  on  account  of  the  Government  over  these  lines,  for 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  to  what  extent  the  (jrovernment  is  being 
remunerated  for  their  construction.  This  will  explain  the  causo  of 
the  introduction  of  figures  on  this  subject. 

Number  of  agents  and  operators  in  service  July  1st,  1863,     33 
Number  of  agents  and  operators  appointed  since  July  1st, 

1863,  '  71       ' 

Total  number  employed  during  the  year,  104 

Number  of  operators  resigned,  50 

Number  of  operators  dismissed,  3 

Total  number  of  operators'  services  discontinued,  53 

Leaving  in  service  June  30th,  1864,  51 


Number  of  watclimen  in  service  July  1st,  1863,  9 

Number  of  watchmen  appointed  since  July  1st,  1863,  2 

Total  number  employed  during  the  year,  11 

Number  of  watchmen  resigned,  '  2 

Number  of  watchmen  dismissed,  1 

Total  number  of  watchmen's  services  discontinued,  3 

LeaTing  in  service  June  30th,  1864,  8 


Number  of  military  offices  in  operation  July  1st,  1863,        33 
Numbet  of  military  offices  opened  since  July  Ist,  1863,       7U 

Total  number  of  offices  operated  during  the  year,  I (''3 

Number  of  offices  discontinued,  o8 

Leaving  in  operation  June  3i)th,  1864,  4o 


Number  of  miles  of  line  in  operation  July  1st,  1863,         447 
Number  of  miles  of  line  constructed  since  July  1st,  18G3,    197 


Total  number  of  miles  operated  during  the  year,  644 

Number  of  miles  taken  down,  36 

Number  of  miles  abandoned,  147 


Total  number  of  miles  abandoned  and  taken  down,  183 

*  - 

Number  of  miles  in  operation  June  30th,  1864,  461 


Cost  of  operators  and  agents  from  July  Ist, 

1863,  to  June  3(Uh,  1864,  §28,037  45 

Cost  of  watchmen  from  July  Ist,  1863,  to 

June  30th,  18G4,  6,216   66 


Total  cost  of  operators,  agents  and  watch- 
men, $34,254  11 

Cost  of  instruments  and  materials,  32,841  45 

Cost  of  repairs  of  lines  and  instruments,  1,685  89 

Cost  of  construction  of  197  miles  of  line — 

average  glo5  85  1-2  per  mile,  20,683  45 

Cost  of  incidental  expenses,  offices,  &c.,  1,690  07 


Total  cost  of  building,  operating,  kc,  for 

the  year,  <^91,154  97 


6 

Receipts  from  offices  for  the  J  ear,  $8,659  63 

Government  busineps  sent  free,  which,  if  it 

had  been  paid  for,  would  amount  to,  87,729  84 

Total  business  during  the  year,  $96,389  47 

Less  expenditures,  91,154  97 

Excess  of  actual  business  over  expenditures,  S5.234  50 


Value  of  Propertv  on  H  ^nd  and  in  use  June  30th,  1864 — Estimated. 

461  miles  of  line  in  operation,  $495,520  00 

Instruments  and  materials,  111,232  05  • 


Total  value  of  property  on  hand  June  30ih, 

1SG4,  $606,752  05 


Recapitulation  of    Military  Telegraphing — Receipts. 

Balance  on  hand  from  last  annual  report,  $6,369  S7 

Receipts  from  offices,  $3,659  63 

Receipts  from  Treasury  -warrants,  1 1(1,000  00 

'. 118,659  GS 


Total  receipts,  $l!^5,0-29  00 


Expenditures. 

Amount  paid  operators  and  agents,  $28,037  45 

Amount  paid  watchmen,  6,216  66 

Amount  paid  instruments  and  materials,  32,841  A5 

Amount  pnid  repairs,  1,685  89 

Amount  paid  construction,  20,683  45 

Amount  paid  office  expenses,  etc.,  1,6'Jil  07 


Total  expenditures,  $91,154  97 

Old  issue  deposited  with  C.  S.  Treasurer,     17,028  57 
Balance  on  hand  to  next  account,  16,845  46 


$125,029  00 


Trans-Mississippi  Postal  Agency. 

The  organization  of  a  branch  of  the  postal  service  west  of  the 
Mississippi  river,  under  the  authority  of  the  act  of  Februnry  10th, 
1864,  has,  under  the  efficient  management  of  Dr.  James  li.  Starr,  the 
^agent  of  the  Department,  been  completed,  and  much  has  been  dono 


towards  the  restoration  of  the  service  there.  Sufficient  time  has  not 
elapsed  to  cn;ible  hira  and  the  Auditor  for  that  Department  to  complete 
the  settlement  of  all  the  accounts  for  past  service  there  ;  but  it  is  be- 
lieved they  have  all  the  material  necessary  to  enable  them  to  settle 
these  accounts  without  much  more  delay  16  the  creditors  of  the  De- 
partment. 

The  large  number  of  books,  and  amount  of  postage  stamps,  sta- 
tionery, blanks,  etc.,  and  the  instructions  furnished  by  this  Depart- 
ment, preparatory  to  the  organization  of  a  branch  of  the  service 
there,  as  shown  in  my  last  report,  reached  the  agent  at  Marshall, 
Texas,  without  loss  or  injury;  and  considerable  amounts  of  blanks, 
stationery  and  postage  stamps,  and  some  additional  books,  have  since 
been  forwarded. 

Increase  of  Commissions  to  Postmasters. 

Owing  to  the  increased  cost  of  clerk  hire,  house  rent,  fuel,  lights, 
etc  ,  the  commissions  allowed  to  postmasters  by  •'  An  act  regulating 
the  compensation  of  deputy  postmasters,"  approved  April  2l3t,  1862, 
are  found  insufficieat  to  cover  the  necessary  expenses  of  the  post- 
offices.  The  present  rates  of  commissions  were  adopted  in  view  of  the 
increase  of  the  rates  of  postages  under  the  act  of  April  19th,  1862, 
in  lieu  of  the  higher  rates  which  were  allowed  by  law  before  that 
time,  and  would  have  been  sufficient  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the 
post-offices  but  for  that  depreciation.  These  commissions,  together 
with  the  emoluments  derived  from  box-rents,  furnish  the  fund  out  of 
which  the  compensation  of  postmasters  and  their  clerks,  office  rent, 
fuel,  lights,  and  other  expenses  of  the  post-offices  are  paid.  And  I 
recommend,  as  necessary  to  the  efficiency  of  the  service,  the  increase 
of  the  rates  of  commissions,  to  be  allowed  to  compensate  postmasters, 
and  pay  the  expenses  of  the  offices  as  follows,  to  wit : 

On  any  sum  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars,  sixty  per  centum, 
and,  where  the  mails  arrive  regularly  between  the  hours  of  nine 
o'clock  at  night  and  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  seventy  per  centum. 
On  any  sum  over  one  hundred  dollars,  and  not  exceeding  four  hun- 
dred dollars,  fifty  per  centum.  On  any  sum  over  four  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  not  exceeding  twenty-four  hundred  dollars,  forty  per  cen- 
tu.-n,  and  on  all  sums  over  twenty-four  hundred  dollars,  twenty  per 
centum  ;  leaving  the  rate  of  commission  on  matter  for  distribution 
as  it  now  stands. 

Increase  of  Maximum  Compensation  to  Certain  Postmasters. 

And  I  recommend  an  increase  of  the  maxmum  rate  of  compensation 
to  the  postmaster  of  the  city  of  llichmon<l,  Virginia,  to  six  thousand 
dollars  per  annum.  And  that  the  niixiiDum  rate  of  compensation  of 
the  postmasters  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  Kaleigh  and  Wilmington, 
North  Carolina,  Charleston  and  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  Augusta 
iind  Sivaunah,  Georgia,  and  at  Montgomery  and  Mobile,  Alabama,  be 
increased  to  five  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 


Increase  of  CoMrKNSAriON  allowkd  to  SptciAL  Agents. 

The  compensation  now  allowed  by  law  to  the  special  agents  of  this 
department  is  sixteen  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  with  a  per  diem 
allowance,  in  ad<lition,  of  ton  dollars  for  travelling;  expenses.  The 
annual  pay  and  per  diem  allowance  together  are  not  sufficient  to  pay 
their  travelling  expenses,  leaving  out  of  view  their  necessary  cloth- 
ing and  the  support  of  thi'ir  families.  They  are  charged  with  very 
important  and  re.«!ponsible  dutit'S,  which  can  only  be  performed  properly 
by  men  of  good  ability  and  business  qualiGo.itions.  There  are  but  nine 
of  these  special  agents  ;  and  I  respectfully  recommend  thiit  their 
:innual  compensation  be  increased  to  three  thousand  dollars  per 
annum,  in  addition  to  the  present  per  diem  allowance. 

I.NCKF.A?!:    OK    CoMFF.NSATIO.N    ALLOWr.I)    TO    RoiTK    AcL.NTS. 

The  route  agents  of  this  deportment  are  now  allowed  a  compensa- 
tion of  eighteen  hundred  dollars  per  annum.  Good  business  (jualifi- 
cations  are  essential  to  the  efficient  an<i  proper  disch  irgo  of  their 
duties.  And  no  class  of  officers  under  the  Government  is  taxed  with 
iDorc  unremitting  and  laborious  duties.  Theircompensation  is  inade- 
quate ;  and  I  respectfully  recommend  that  their  salaries  btj  iticreased 
to  such  sum  as  shall  be  allowed  by  the  J'ostmaster  General,  not 
exceeding  three  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

I.NCREASL    OF    CojlPENSATION    OF    AgeNT    OF    TIIF,    PosTOFFICE     DePART- 
y.lLST    FOR    THE    StaTES    WEST    OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI. 

The  compensation  of  the  agent  of  the  Postoffice  Department  for  the 
States  west  of  the  ^Mississippi,  appointed  under  the  act  of  February 
ID,  18G4,  is  four  thousand  dollars  per  annum.  The  duties  of  this 
officer  are  arduous,  and  his  responsibility  is  next  in  importance  to 
that  of  the  head  of  the  ('epartmeut.  His  compensation  is  the  same 
as  that  now  allowed,  by  law,  to  ordinary  clerks  in  this  city.  I 
recommend  that  it  be  increased  to  six  thousand  dollars  per  annum — 
the  amount  allowed  by  the  act  of  June  1-1,  l8Gt,  to  the  Assistant 
Secretary  of  War,  the  A.ssi.-tuit  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Assist- 
ant Attorney  General,  and  to  the  Comi'troller. 

IiNCREASE    OF    Co.MTENSATlO.N    OF    IIkaDS    OF    BlREAUS. 

The  compensation  of  the  heads  of  bureaus  of  this  department,  no-.r 
allowed  by  law,  is  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 
And  without  further  legislation,  it  will  be  reduced  to  three  thousand 
dollars  per  annum  after  the  first  of  January  next,  as  the  law  giving 
them  this  increase  of  salary  above  three  thousand  dollars  expires, 
by  its  own  limitation,  on  that  date. 

Their  compensation  is,   at  this  time,  but  five  h*undred  dollars  more 


than  that  of  the  clerks  in  the  several  departments.  It  shouM  be 
increased  to  such  an  amount  as  will  meet  their  ordinary  expenses, 
and  the  salaries  of  the  heads  of  bureaus  should  be  equalized. 

Frauds  on  Rkvenues  of  the  Department. 

In  my  report  of  February  28th,  1862,  and  in  a  supplemental  report 
dated  the  luth  of  April,  1862,  I  called  attention  to  the  frauds  then 
being  perpetri^ted  on  the  revenues  of  this  department  by  what  is 
known  as  the  Southern  Express  Company,  and  to  supposed  difhoulties 
in  the  way  of  their  successful  prosecution  and  punishment.  By  ihe 
law  of  the  19th  of  April,  1862,  entitled  "An  act  to  repeal  certain 
laws  therein  named,  and  to  declare  others  in  full  force,  in  relation  to 
conveyance  of  mailable  matter  outside  of  the  mail,"  the  laws  of  the 
Confederate  States  theretofore  enacted,  relating  to  the  carrying  of  mail- 
able matter  by  expre?s  or  other  companies,  were  repealed,  and  the 
laws  which  were  in  force  on  the  same  subject,  prior  to  their  enact- 
ment were  revived  and  put  in  force.  Under  the  laws  so  revived,  such 
companies  were  forbidden  to  carry  "any  letters,  packets  or  packases 
of  letters,  or  any  other  matter  properly  transmittible  in  the  Confede- 
rate States  mail,  except  newspapers,  pamphlets,  magazines  and  period- 
icals" ar;d  excepting  letters  and  packages  enclosed  in  stampeii  envel- 
opes. And  under  this  hitter  exception,  letters  and  packages,  the 
postage  on  v»-hich  was  prdd  by  stamps,  cjuld  not  bo  carried  out  of  the 
mail.  So  that,  under  those  laws,  if  not  changed  or  qualified  by  our 
subsequent  legi.slation,  express  and  other  companies  are  forbidden, 
under  a  penalty  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  each  offence,  to 
carry  letters  or  packages,  &c.,  other  than  newspapers,  pamphlets, 
magazines,  and  periodicals.  Notwithstanding  this  state  of  the  law, 
the  Southern  Express  Company  continues  to  carry  large  numbers  of 
letters  and  packages  over  the  post  routes,  in  violation  of  the  law,  and 
to  the  extent  to  which  they  do  so,  abstract  from  the  revenues  of  the 
department.  This  is  generally  done  in  bold  defiance  of  the  law  and 
of  the  constant  eflforts  of  this  department  to  prevent  it.  But  more 
recently  they  have,  in  numerous  cases,  adopted  the  subterfuge  of 
advising  persons,  who  propose  to  send  letters  by  them,  to  value  them 
as  letters  containing  so  much  money,  when  it  is  known  to  both  them 
and  the  senders  of  such  letters  that  they  contain  no  money.  Under 
the  supposition  that  they  have  the  right  to  carry  money-packages, 
they  adopt  this  device  for  the  double  pu^-pose  of  evading  the  law,  and 
of  extorting  a  larger  price  for  the  conveyance  of  such  letters. 

It  is  a  violation  of  law  for  express  or  other  compa'.iies  to  carry 
scaled  packages,  containing  money  or  other  mailable  matter,  along 
the  post  routes  ;  and  by  the  provisions  of  the  law  of  the  29th  of 
April,  1SG3,  "to  presciibe  the  rates  of  postage  on  newspapers,"  &,c., 
it  is  provided,  "that  the  rates  of  postage  on  newspapers  published 
in  the  Confederate  States,  and  sent  to  regular  subscribers,  shall  be  at 
the  rate  of  one  cent  for  each  paper  not  weighing  over  three  ounces," 
&c.  *  *  "And  the  inland  postage  on  every  other  newspaper, 
and  on  each  circular  not  sealed,  hand-bill,  engraving,  pamphlet,  peri- 


10 

odical,  magazine  or  other  pnper,  which  shall  be  unconnected  with  any 
manuscript  or  written  matter,  and  not  exceeding  one  ounce  in  wi.'ight, 
shall  be  ons  cent,"  &c. 

The  postage  on  newspapers  and  periodicals  sent  to  regular  subscri- 
bers is  required  by  the  above  named  act'to  be  paid  tjuarterly  in  advance, 
either  at  the  postoffice  of  the  place  where  they  are  publi«hc<l,  or  at 
the  postoffice  where  they  are  delivered  ;  and  the  postage  on  all  other 
newspapers  and  periodicals,  (that  is,  transient  matter,)  is  required  to 
be  pre-paid  at  the  office  at  which  they  are  mailed.  It  is  not  certain  how 
far  the  law  above  referred  to  qualifies  the' laws  of  the  United  States, 
which  were  revived  and  put  in  force  by  theactof  April  I9th,  18»i'i,  re- 
pealing the  law8  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  reviving  those  previous- 
ly in  force  in  relation  to  the  crrrjing  of  mailable  matter  by  express 
and  other  companies.  It  has  been  the  constant  object  of  the  Depart- 
ment, from  the  first,  to  secure  such  legislation  as  would  prevent  all 
competition  with  it,  by  express  or  other  companies,  in  the  carrying 
of  mailable  matter  over  the  post  routes.  And  such  was  the  effect  of 
our  legislation,  except  as  it  was  specilly  limited  to  matter  which  such 
companies  were  allowed  to  carry  on  the  pre-payment  of  the  postage  ; 
unless  by  inadvertence  and  without  so  intending  it,  the  law  of  the 
19th  of  April,  above  referred  to,  give  to  such  companies  the  right  to 
carry  newspapers,  pamphlets,  magazines  and  periodicals. 

I  copy  so  much  of  my  report  of  November  27th,  l.s61,  as  relates 
to  the  discussion  of  this  subject,  and  as  sets  forth  reasons  for  making 
the  Department  the  exclusive  carrier  of  all  mailable  matter. 

**  This  Department  has  encountered  many  complaints  because,  under  ' 
our  legislation,  postage  is  ro(>uired   to  be  paid  on   all  newspapers  and 
periodicals,  (except  those   authorized  to   be   sent  free   of  postage,  as 
exchanges  between  publishers.) 

'*  Under  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  as  they  stood  up  to  Feb- 
ruary last,  newspapers  and  periodicals  could  be  sent  as  freight  by  ex- 
pressmen or  others,  along  the  post  roads,  free  of  postage.  Under 
our  laws,  all  newspapers  and  periodicals  are  mailable  matter,  and  can- 
not be  sent  along  the  post  roads  without  the  payment  of  postage. 

*'  If  Congress  should  allow  them  to  be  carried  by  expressmen  and 
others  as  freight,  along  the  railroads  and  principal  thoroughfares,  it 
will  thus  deprive  the  Department  of  the  principal,  or,  at  least,  of  a 
very  large  part  of  the  revenue  derived  from  the  postage  on  such  mat- 
ter, and  would  relieve  the  readers  of  p:ipers  and  periodicals,  who 
happen  to  be  fortunate  in  living  on  these  great  thoroughfares,  and 
who,  on  that  account,  enjoy  special  advantages  in  obtaining  the  earliest 
news,  from  the  payment  of  that  cl'>ss  of  postage,  while  that  c'ass  of 
readers,  not  residing  on  those  thoroughfares,  and  who,  from  that 
cause,  encounter  greater  delays  and  diffioullies  in  getting  news,  are 
compelled,  from  the  necessity  of  the  case,  to  pay  postage  on  such 
papers  and  periodicals.  This  would  be  to  compel  one  class  of  citi- 
zens to  contribute  newspaper  and  periodical  postage  for  the  support 
of  the  mail  service,  an<i"  to  e.-iempt  another  and  more  favored  class 
from   that  burden.     And  it  is  no  just  answer  to   this  to  say  they  all 


11 

have   the  same  privilege   of  employing   expressmen.     This    may  be 
theoretically,  but  it  is  not  practically,  true. 

*'  It  is  believed  to  be  true,  however,  that  these  complaints  come 
from  the  publishers  and  expressmen,  and  not  eo  much,  if  at  al!,  from 
the  rea'lers  of  papers  and  periodicals.  And  it  is  a  sufficient  answer 
to  ihem  that  class  legislation  is  contrary  to  the  theory  of  our  Govern- 
ment, and  'n  violation  of  the  cherished  principles  of  equality  and 
justice,  on  which  our  institutions  are  founded. 

*•  On  this  subject  justice  requires  it  to  be  said  that  the  legislation 
of  the  United  States,  in  relation  to  postage  on  newspaper.^  and  peri- 
odicals, cannot  be  accounted  for  on  any  principle  of  reason  or  fair- 
ness. But  it  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  vast  iniluence  of  those 
publications  over  the  popular  mind,  and  especially  over  elections.  It 
is  easily  understood  how  a  man  might  propitiate  their  favor  by  prom- 
ising exemptions  and  gratuities  to  them,  and  how  another  might  fail 
to  obtain  that  favor,  who  would  steadfastly  adhere  to  just  and  sound 
principles,  and  refuse  to  purchase  popular  favor  at  the  expense  of 
principle  and  of  treasure  which  belongs  to  others. 

"  Our  legislation  on  this  subject  is  a  marked  improvement  on  that 
of  the  old  Government;  and  when  the  rates  of  postage  on  newspa- 
pers and  periodicals  shall  be  made  to  approximate  more  nearly  to  an 
equitable  proportion  with  the  postage  on  letters  and  sealed  parkages, 
it  will  be  more  in  harmony  with  reason  and  fairness,  and  less  obnox- 
ious to  the  charge  of  class  and  partial  legislation,  than  at  present. 

*'  The  Government  has  been  vested  with  certain  functions  which  it 
was  believed  could  be  discharged  with  greater  benefit  to  the  public  by 
it  than  hy  private  (nterprise. 

"Among  these,  was  the  establishment  and  management  of  our  sys- 
tem of  postal  communication,  which  is  so  necessary  in  conducting 
the  civil  administration  of  the  Government,  and  its  military  and 
naval  affairs,  and  of  so  incalculable  importance  to  the  public  as  a 
means  of  conveying  intelligence.  Our  theory  is,  that  the  Govern- 
n*nt  must  provide  the  machinery  of  this  Department  and  conduct  its 
operations,  but  at  the  expense  of  those  who  make  use  of  its  facilities. 
That  is,  that  this  Department  shall  be  self-sustaining.  To  make  it 
so,  and  to  make  its  revenues  secure,  and  their  accrual  steady  and  re- 
liable, we  declare  letters,  sealed  packages,  newspapers,  periodicals, 
pamphlets,  tfec,  to  be  mailable  matter,  and  make  their  transmission 
along  the  post-roads,  otherwise  than  through  the  mails,  unlawful. 
The  Government,  ha\ing  been  charged  with  the  heavy  expense  of 
affording  postal  facilities  to  the  country,  is  fully  justified  by  reason 
and  necessity  in  adopting  this  means  of  making  itself  the  exclusive 
carrier  of  certain  classes  of  matter  at  fixed  and  reasonable  rates  of 
compensation,  to  re-imburse  that  expense.  And  if  the  Government 
should  be  required  to  carry  the  newspaper  and  periodical  mail  in  the 
sparsely  settled  portions  of  the  country,  where  the  matter  to  be  car- 
ried is  too  limited  to  justify  express  or  other  private  companies  in 
doing  it,  and  where  it  can  only  be  done  by  the  Department  at  a  loss 
of  itti  revenues,  and  if,  at  the  same  time,  it  shall  allow  this  class  of 
mail  matter  to  be  carried  by  express  or  other  private  companies  along 


12 

the  railroa«l3  and  other  preat  thorouglifures,  where  its  amount  wouW 
incicase  the  rcvcnnes  of  the  Departmeat,  it  is  difficult  to  understand 
why  we  shall  not  also  allow  the  express  and  other  companies  to  carry 
the  letter-mail  on  the  railroads  and  other  great  thoroughfares,  where 
it  is  profitable,  and  allow  the  Government  to  be  the  exclusive  carrier 
of  all  classes  of  matter  on  such  routes  only  as  pass  through  sparsely 
settled  portions  of  the  country,  which  affords  but  little  revenue. 

♦'  To  do  this  would  end  in  breaking  down  the  Department,  or  in 
keeping  it  in  operation  at  the  expense  of  the  general  Treasury.  The 
policy  of  allowing  mail  matter  to  be  carried  as  freight,  wherever  it 
may  be  profitable  to  private  carriers,  creates  rivals  who  are  invited 
by  their  interests  to  contend  with  the  Department  for  its  revenues  on 
all  the  most  important  lines  of  postal  communication;  those  which 
are  most  expensive  to  the  Department,  and  most  difficult  to  control. 
Such  a  policy  would  be  both  unwise  and  disastrous,  and  I  cannot  too 
strongly  recommend  the  continuance  of  the  policy  of  refusing  to  al- 
low newspapers  and  periodicals  to  be  carried  over  the  post-roads  as 
freight,  and  of  requiring  the  payment  of  postage  on  them  as  on  all 
other  mail  matter." 

To  this  end,  and  to  prevent,  in  future,  all  pretext  for  the  frauds  so 
constantly  perpetrated  by  the  Southern  Express  Company,  I  recom- 
mend the  enactment  of  a  law  providing  that  it  shall  be  unlawful,  in 
future,  for  any  express  or  other  company,  or  person,  or  association, 
running  regularly  or  periodii.ally  over  post  routes,  to  carry  any 
mailable  matter;  and  that  such  penalties,  by  both  fine  and  imprison- 
ment, be  prescribed  as  will  effectually  prevent  its  violation,  or  im- 
pose on  those  so  ofiendiug  adequate  punishment.  And  to  avoid  such 
doubts  as  have  heretofore  grown  out  of  questions,  as  to  the  corporate 
existence  and  identity  of  offenders,  the  law  should  be  so  framed  as  to 
reach  them,  whether  incorporated  or  not,  and  to  reach  all  persons 
acting  for  such  corporations,  associations,  or  persons,  as  agents,  em- 
ployees, or  servants ;  and,  also,  all  persons  who  procure,  or  attempt 
to  procure,  such  parties  to  violate  the  law,  and  such  as,  in  any  wjnr, 
aid  or  assist  them.  Experience  has  shown  that  nothing  short  of  the 
most  stringent  and  thorough  legislation,  excluding  all  doubts  and 
guarding  against  evasions,  will  correct  this  evil. 

CoMPENS.VTrOX    TO    R.V1LR0AD3. 

By  the  law  of  the  Olh  of  May,  18G1,  amending  an  act  vesting  cer- 
tain powers  in  the  J'ostmaster  General,  the  railroads  in  the  Confede- 
rate States  were  divided  into  three  classes;  and  the  maximum  rate  of 
compensation  for  carrying  the  mails,  allowed  to  those  of  the  first 
class,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars — to  those  of  the  second  class, 
one  hundred  dollars — and  to  those  of  the  third  class,  fifty  dollars  per 
mile  per  annum;  and  to  the  rate  of  compensation  allowed,  twenty  • 
five  per  centum  is  allowed  to  any  railroad  on  which  one-half  of  the 
service  is  required  to  bo  performed  in  the  night  time.  These  rates 
were  a'^'reed  to  between  the  Department  and  a  Convention  of  railroad 


13 

officers,  and  were  a  considerable  redaction  of  the  maximum  rates  of 
compensation  previously  allowed  to  first  class  railroads.  But  the 
Department  took  upon  itself,  at  the  same  time,  the  expense  of  the 
messenger  service  between  the  railroad  depots  and  the  postoffices  not 
immediately  on  the  railroads.  This  arrangement  was  consented  to 
by  the  railroad  companies,  in  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  to  aid  the  De- 
partment to  meet  the  requirement  of  the  Constitution,  that  its  ex- 
penses should  be  paid  out  of  its  own  revenues.  Since  that  time,  the 
depreciation  of  the  value  of  our  currency  has  been  such,  that  the 
sum  now  paid  railroads  for  carrying  the  mails  bears  no  just  propor- 
tion to  the  value  of  the  services  performed.  An<l,  at  the  present 
value  of  our  currency,  no  sum  that  the  revenues  of  the  Department 
would  now  enable  it  to  pay,  and,  at  the  same  time,  meet  its  other  lia- 
bilities, woulil  probably  furnish  an  adequate  compensation.  But  I 
recommend  that  the  law  be  so  changed  as  to  make  the  maximum  com- 
pensation to  first  class  railroads  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars 
— of  second  class  railroads,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars — and  of 
third  class  railroads,  seventy-five  dollars  per  mile  per  annum,  with 
the  addition  of  twenty-five  per  centum  for  night  service. 

On  account  of  the  absence  of  the  larger  number  of  the  clerks  of 
this  Department,  and  of  the  First  Auditor's  office  in  the  trenches,  in 
defence  of  the  city,  for  several  weeks  past,  I  have  not  been  able  to 
submit  as  full  and  satisfactory  a  report  of  the  condition  of  the  busi- 
ness in  the  several  bureaus  as  usual. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be. 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  H.  REAGAN, 

Postmaster  General. 


u 


[A] 


STATEMENT  Erhihitinf^  the  Receipts  of  the  Tos'nffice  Bcparlimnt, 
under  their  respective  heads,  during  the  Sd  ajid  4th  quarters,  1868, 
and   \st  quarter,   186-1. 


8J  Qimrler.l  4!li 

Qn:irter, 

litis. 

iBt  Qniiner, 

1S04. 

Tolhl  under      A({grcft«tB. 
•  nch  tH^nvl . 

X.•^     - 

Po- 

iifiniphlfU, .. 
-,ila,  

1  IM  911  ri7i| 
f.!»  i  S  OS' 
«98,B29  M.l 

8711  10 

;42  HUG  7ii 

02  958  70 

716  Oil)  6.-. 

.^43  25 

1     1;-.0;}S4  94 

K  9B8  77 

679.  00  64 

2  3(4  81 

191,851  j-a 

1     4IS.I!<.S  m 

ItH.S.VI  fS 

«,14»2.')U  79 

8.518  16 

I91,ii:<l  8-i 

em; 

:mpn's, 

T  805  789  35  $ 

9^^.21*  80 

$  1.0S0.210  9S 

f  2,6«S,I64  68 

Reiipect fully  Bulimltled, 
Hon.  J.  n.  Hi:.lGA5,  Postmaster  Gcnfrnl. 


ACDITOS'S    OpFIC",  POSTOFFIOI  T>II'AIIT5I«»T,  i 

Jk'oBcmbcr  1st,  ISC*.  I 

A.  MOTSE,  Jb., 

Jlcting  .111  (lit or. 


[B] 


STATEMENT  exhibiting  the  Expenditures  of  the  Posf.nfJce  Department 
under  thtir  lespective  heads,  for  tJie  third  and  fourth  quarters,  1863. 
and  first  quarter,  1864. 


Classifleation  of  Expenditures. 

1 
3d  Quarter,  4iL  Quarter, 

let  Qiinrtor, 

ise4. 

Total  under 
each  hi-ad. 

Aggregate. 

Tr^iiiBpiirtit  on  of  tnlHiid  ninlls, 

Oomp -iiHiil^oii  of  pi)8tiiia»ter(> 

Compi-iihiii oil  of  )iiHlcilHce  clerkH,.. 
Ship,  Bloitnl.oat  and  way  litlerB 

$  240  438  41    $  2.')0,782  M 

236,.S77  39       212,8l8  87 

28  5^3  14         31  973  52 

J63  f.4              121   73 

1,^.91-.  08           l.l:  4  tU 

8-4  10                68  50 

2  00     

$  144  7-.'6  18 

23ri,()T7  81 

15  014  84 

144  .M 

C4o  91) 

20  57 

\W8.'>,S97  47 

0^/),7;     57 

75,071  .-,4 

4-'9  78 

3  l7i:  62 

479  17 

2  (iO 

2S  057  2/) 

25  (-34  -.0 

1  fiO 

]S.:-,24  94 

23  l;"4}  48 

73,70.^  76 

Oflic"  (umilure 

Rl:iiik»  and  p' inline, 

Wr.p|.in«  p..I"T 

Mni   looli-,  kc\H  uim!  olanipH, 

Mail  d«prf(l:ilioii8  and  xpixial  ai;eiili<, 

l.Ui  75         VT  910  M 
3,071  26,        12,3:M1  9  . 

1                 1  GO 

6.373  22          8,r.(3  f)7 
9fj6.  8i;          2,1 'S4  .'jS 
64,220  17          7,9  9  IS 

liUi  2  00 

""h,?44  1.^ 
11  4S2  0(i 
11,551  43 

Miscuiluiieuutf  pu>  lUfUls, 

5.^81.227  89   »^50,T44  65 

i  438.415  4" 

<  1  670  3<«7  94 

♦  Of  thiH  fliiiii,  882,527  08  wag  paid  f.ir  postal  service  rerdercd  in  the  S'ates  of  tho  Cor>r  deracy  un- 
der conirai'i  or  uppoliitineni  uindo  Vy  thi>  Jnilcd  S'.Hteh  Govonniiei.t  b'fore  tho  Confederate  Statea 
look  charge  uf  blcIi  service.    [See  act  approved  Bej  tctiibur  27,  18132,  chapter  15]. 


Respeetfully  eubmitted 
Hon.  J.  n.  Rbioa^i  Postmaster  General. 


Aci;:tou'3  Offick,  PosTorFirR  Dtahtmk.nt,  > 
Ji'ovember  1st,  1S64.  \ 

A.  MOISE,  Jb., 
Acting  yjuditsr. 


15 


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ESTIMATES 

For  Service  of  the  PcsUffice  Depcrtment,  avd  fur  Military  TeUgraphing^ 
from   JcTiUary    \st  to  June  30,    18G5. 


PoSTOKFICE    Df.PARTMKNT,  ) 

Rkhmond,  Oct.  2l),  1864.  \ 
To  THE  President  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor,  herc\\ilh,  to  submit  duplicate  copies 
of  estimates  for  appropriations  for  the  service  of  the  rostoflice 
Dej)artment,  for  the  period  of  six  months  from  the  let  of  January  to 
the  ui'ih  of  June,  ISGa  ;  and  for  additional  appropriations  for  the  ser- 
vice of  this  department  for  the  six  months  ending  the  Slst  of  Decem- 
ber, 1864,  made  necessary  by  the  act  of  the  14th  of  June,  1861,  "to 
increase  the  compensation  of  the  heads  of  the  several  Executive 
Departments,  and  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  and  the  Treasury, 
and  of  the  Assistant  Attorney  General,  and  the  Comptroller  of  the 
Treasury,  and  other  officers  therein  named.''  And  also  of  estimates 
for  appropriations  for  the  service  of  military  tolcgraphini;,  for  the  six 
months  from  the  1st  of  January  t)  the  3Uth  of  June,  1865. 
With  great  respect,  vour  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  II.  REAGAN, 

Postmaster  General. 


PoSTOKFrCE    Dki'art.mf.nt,        ) 
J'ijuuire   liureau,   Oct.  19,  1864.  > 

Hon.   John  II.   Peagan, 

Postmaster    General : 

Siu  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  estimates  of  the 
sums  required  for  the  compensation  of  the  Postmaster  General, 
Chiefs  of  Bureaus,  clerks,  messengers,  and  laborers  of  the  PostolKce 
Department  for  the  six  months  from  January  Ist  to  June  3nth,  1865, 
under  the  following  named  acts  of  Congress,  to  wit:  "An  act  to 
determine  the  salaries  of  the  Vice  President  and  the  heads  of  depart- 
ments," approved  Ist  February,  1861  ;  "An  act  further  to  provide 
for  the  organization  of  the  PostolVice  Department,"  approved  9th 
March,  1861  ;  "An  act  to  amend  an  act  further  to  provide  for  the 
organization  of  the  Postoffice  Department,"  approved  11th 
May,  1861  ;  "An  act  continuing  the  provisions    of  an   act  approved 


17 

13th  October,  1862,"  approved  13th  January,  1864;  **An  act  to 
increase  the  compensation  of  certain  civil  officers  and  employees  in 
the  President's  office  and  in  the  Executive  and  Legislative  Depart- 
ments, in  Richmond,  for  a  limited  period,"  approved  Silth  January, 
1864  ;  "An  act  to  continue  in  fierce  and  amend  the  provisions  of  an 
act  approved  oDth  January,  1864,"  approve  I  I3th  May,  1864,  and 
"An  act  to  increase  the  compensation  of  the  heads  of  the  several  Execu- 
tive Departments,  and  the  Assistant  Secretaries  of  War  and  the  Treas- 
ury, and  of  the  Assistant  Attorney  Greneral,  and  the  Comptroller  of 
the  Treasury,  and  other  officers  therein  named,"  approved  14th  June, 
1864. 
For  compensation  of  the   Postmaster  General  at  $9,000  per  annum, 

from  1st  January  to  14th  June,  1865,  $4,104  39 

At  $6,0y()  per  annum,  from  the  loth  to  the  3Uthof  June, 

1865,  263  73 

For  three  Chiefs  of  Bureaus,  at  §3,000  per  annum,  4,500  00 

For  one  chief  clerk,  at  $4,000,  from  1st  January  to  14th 

June,  1,824   17 

For  one  chief  clerk,  at  $1,750,  from  15th  to  the  3iith  of 

June,  76  92 

For  one  disbursing  clerk,  at  $4,000,  from  Ist  January  to 

14th  June, 
For  one  disbursing  clerk,  at  $1,500,    from    15th    to  30th 

June, 
For  one  topographer,  at   $4,000,    from    lat   January    to 

14th  June, 
For  one  topographer,  at  $1,750,    from    15th   to  30th   of 

June, 
For  four  principal  clerks,  at  $4,000,  frcm  Ist  January  to 

14th  June,  7,296  70 

For  four  principal  clerks,  at  $1,500,  from  15th  to  3(lth  of 

June,  263  73 

For  forty-one  clerks,  at  $4,000,  from  Ist  January  to  14th 

June,"  '  74,791   20 

For  forty-one    clerks,  at    $1,500,    from    loth   to  30th  of 

June,'  2,703  29 

For  two  messengers,  at  $2,000,  from  1st  January  to  14th 

June,  1,824   18 

For  two  messengers,  at  $750,  from  15th  to  30th  of  June,  65  94 

For  one  messenger,  at  $1,600,  from  let  January  to  June 

14th,  729  67 

For  one  n^sscnger,  at  $600,  from  15th  to  30th  June, 
For  four  laborers,  at  $6  per  day,  from  Jan.  1  to  June  14,         3,984  00 
For  four  laborers,  at  $2  25,  from   15th  to  30th  June,  144  00 


1,824 

17. 

65 

93 

1,824 

17 

76 

92 

Total,  $106,389  48 


For  contingent  and  miscellaneous  expenses,  from  Ist  January  to  30th 
June,  1865,  twenty  thousand  dollars,  $20,000 


18 

I  also  respectfully  ask  an  appropriation  of  twenty  thousand  dollars 
($20,0011)  for  rent,' fuel,  gas  lights,  candles  and  water,  for  the  post- 
office  for  the  city  of  Richmond,  from  1st  July,  1S64,  to  30th  June, 
1RG5,  under  an  act  approved  Ist  May,   18(13. 

I  have  the  honor  to  he,  very  respectfully,  kc, 

J.  L.  LANCASTER, 
Acting  Chief  nf  Finance  Biirenn. 


PosTOFPicE  Department,      ) 
Jiirhmond,  October   19,  y<64.  S 

lion.  J.   U.   Rkagan, 

Postmaster  General : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  estimates  of  the 
auras  required  for  the  compensation  of  the  Agent  and  clerks  for  the 
Postoffice  Department  of  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi  river, 
from  1st  January  to  the  30th  June,  1865,  under  the  following  named 
acts  of  Congress,  to  wit : 

**  An  act  authorizing  the  appointment  of  an  agent  of  the  Postoffice 
Department  and  such  clerks  as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  on  the 
postal  service  in  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,"  approved 
ICth  February,  1864  ;  "  An  act  to  increase  the  compensation  of 
certain  civil  officers  and  employees  in  the  President's  office,  and  in  the 
Executive  and  in  the  Legislative  Departments,"*  approved  30th  Jan- 
uary, 1864,  and  "  An  act  to  increase  t!ie  compensation  of  the  heads 
of  the  several  Executive  Departments,  and  the  Assistant  Secretary  of 
War  and  the  Treasury,  and  of  the  Assistant  Attorney  General  and 
the  Comptroller  of  the  Treasury  and  other  officers  therein  named," 
approved  14th  June.  1864. 

For  compensation  of  the  Agent  oi    uie  i  Dsuimcc  [>(.;p;iniiii.;iu.  wjst  of 
the  Mississippi,  at  SlJ'iH)  per  a.inum,  i'^^jOOO  UO 

For  compensation   of  ten   clerks  in   said   l^epartmeut,  at 

$3,750  per  annum,  from  1st  January  to  14th  June,  I7,l<)0  50 

For  compensation   of  same    at   $l,50U   per  annum,  iioui 

iOtb  to  3iith  June,  65i)  35 


ll  19,759  85 

There  will  also  be  required  an  appropriation  of  $20,000  for  the  con- 
tingent and  miscellaneous  expenses  of  this  branch  of  the  Department. 
i  have  the  honor  to  be,  verv  respectfully,  c<:c., 

J.  L.  LANCASTER, 
■■■'  Acting  Cuiff  of  Finance  Bureau. 


19 


POSTOFFICE    DErARTMENT, 

Bichmond,  October  19,  1864. 

Hon.  J.  11.  IJeagan, 

^ostiiimteo-   General : 

Sir  :  [  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  estimates  of  the 
sums  required  for  the  increased  compensation  of  the  Postmaster  Gen- 
eral, clerks  and  employees  of  the  Postoffice  Department  in  Richmond, 
and  for  the  clerks  in  the  branch  of  the  Department  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river,  from  the  1  iih  June  to  3ist  December,  li364,  under 
*'  An  act  to  increase  the  compensation  of  the  heads  of  the  several 
Executive  Departments,  and  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  and  the 
Treasury,  and  of  the  Assistant  Attorney  General  and  the  Comptroller 
of  the  Treasury,  and  other  officers  therein  named,"  approved  14th 
June,  1864. 

For  increased  compensation  of  the  Postmaster  General  at  ^;S,()(l()  per 

annum,  $1,640   11 

For  one  chief  clerk  at  $1,000  per  annum,  546  70 

For  three  principal  clerks  at  §!,oOO  per  annum,  1,64U   11 

For  one  disbursing  clerk  at  !$  1,000  per  annum,  546  70 

For  one  topographer  at  $1,000  per  annum,  546  70 

For  forty-one  clerks  at  $1,000  per  annum,  22,214  70 

For  two  messengers  at  ^wOO  per  annum,  546  70 

For  one  messenger  at  .$400  per  annum,  218  68 

For  four  laborers  at  $1.50  per  day,  1,200  00 

For  compensation   of  ten   clerks  in   the  branch   of  the 

Postoffice   Department  •  west   of    the    Mississippi,   at 

$750  per  annum,  4,100  20 


Making,  $33,200  60 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  LANCASTEPt, 
Acting  Ckief  of  Finance  Bureau. 


Office  of  C.  S.  Military  Telegraph,  > 
Richmond,   Va.,  Oct.  18th,  1864.      J 

lion.  John  II.  Heagan, 

Postmaster  General : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  estimates  of  the 
sums  required  for  tho  compensation  of  agents,  operators,  and  watch- 
men, and  for  the  cost  of  materials,  construction,  repairing  and  operat- 


to 

ing  military  telegraph  linet<  for  six  u^onths  from  the  let  of  Janunry, 
1865,  to  June  3(lih,  Ibtio,  under  the  provisions  of  the  act  "relative 
to  telegraph  lines  of  the  Confederate  States,"  approved  May  I  1th, 
1861. 

The  actual  expenditures    for    theso    purposes    for    the    six  months 
ijhich  ended  September  SOth,  1.SG4,  were  as  follows  : 

Amount  paid  agents  and  operators,  ;S32,5(*9  83 

Amount  paid  watchmen,  3.375  HO 

Amount  paid  oifice  expenses,  228  85 

Amount  paid  office  material,  22,'il)v)  33 

Amount  paid  construction,  48,023  30 

Amount  paid  repairs  of  lines  and  instruments,  2,126  85 

Amount  paid  incidental  expenses,  1,151  85 


$99,616  01 


The  actual  expenditures  for  the  (juarter  ending  September  3()th,  1864, 
were,  $71,886  89 

The  probable  expenditures   for  the  quarter    ending  De- 
cember 31st,  1864,  will  be,  36,390  49 


Probable  expenditures  for  six  months  ending  December 

3l8t.  1864,  $108,277  38 


The  expenditures  for  the  ensuing  six  months  will  be  somewhat 
decreased,  as  it  is  probable  that  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  establish 
as  many  new  offices,  nor  will  it  be  necessary  to  purchase  any  wire 
for  new  lines,  having  a  good  supply  on  hand. 

The  probable  cost  for  the  six  months  ending  June  30th,  1865,  will 
be— 

For  agents  and  operators,  $37,050 

For  watchmen,  4,860 

For  office  expenses,  300 

For  office  material,  25,050 

For  construction,  30,900 

For  repairs  of  lines  and  instruments,  1,000 

For  incidental  expenses,  840 

$100,000 
Amount  on  hand  June  30,  1864,     •  $55,027  38 

Amount  of  appropriation  for  six  months  ending 

December  31st,  78,250  00 


Amount  of  available  funds  for  six  months  end- 
ing December  31st,  133,277  38 

Carried  forward,  $133,277  38 


81 

Carried  forward,  $133,277   38 

Amount  of  probably  expenditures   for   the    six 

months  ending  December  31,                              108,277  38 
Probable  amount  on  hand  January  1,  1865, 25,000 


Amount  required  for  the  six  months  ending  June  30,  18(35,  ^75,000 

Respectfully  submitted, 

J.  T.  COLOWELL, 
Sup't  C.  S.  Military  Telegraph  Lines. 


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